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Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
Never-Before-Seen Sketches Show How Cool Volkswagen Wanted To Be
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. A Familiar Alien If you're a hardcore Volkswagen fan, you're probably aware of and interested in cars that the German automaker sold outside your home country. For such individuals, the shape in these never-before-published sketches shared to LinkedIn looks incredibly familiar, calling to mind Brazil's Volkswagen SP2, an air-cooled coupe produced from 1972 to 1975 on the widened bones of a Karmann Ghia VW Type 14 with a Type 3 'pancake' (boxer/horizontally opposed/flat) engine. Indeed, the SP2 inspired Volkswagen designer Tibor Juhasz back in 2017, when Volkswagen was evaluating various ways of offering EVs to the public. Why The Concept Was Considered 'Back in 2017, my SP2 proposal was born from pure intuition. It envisioned an electric future powered by progress, yet deeply rooted in classic values,' explained Juhasz on LinkedIn. 'My goal was clear: build forward without losing what defines us. Emotion, energy, and vision came together to create something that still resonates today.' According to his colleague, Stepan Rehak, who shared the sketches first spotted by Top Gear, the 'sporty concept proposal' would have been built on the MEB platform, so it might have been relatively cost-effective to build. But the whole reason Volkswagen was working so fervently on all-electric vehicles at this time was to try to salvage its reputation following the immensely expensive Dieselgate scandal; the last thing VW needed was a sporty EV that would almost certainly sell in low volumes, even if it were offered globally, so it's no wonder management passed on the retro coupe. By providing your email address, you agree that it may be used pursuant to Arena Group's Privacy Policy. Just Get The Original A little over 10,000 of the original SP2 were made, so they're rare. But not necessarily expensive. According to the average value over the last five years has hovered around $24,000. Very few examples are on sale in America, but a resprayed 1975 model with around 41,000 miles is selling for $21,000 on Bring a Trailer, with four other examples on each different model years and different colors, ranging in price from $39,990 to $53,500. As an air-cooled Volkswagen from the 1970s, it'll need babying and lots of rust prevention, but I guarantee you'll draw more attention than the average Lambo. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
BMW Launches Gen6 Electric Motor for Neue Klasse EV Rollout
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Hyundai's August lease deal on the all-new 2025 IONIQ 9 makes this three-row electric SUV even harder to resist—bold design, spacious luxury, and great savings. BMW has officially started series production of its sixth-generation eDrive motor — a key piece of its all-electric Neue Klasse platform. Built at BMW's Steyr plant in Austria, the new motor will power the company's upcoming wave of EVs, starting with the 2026 BMW iX3. This production milestone signals a major shift for the brand as it pushes toward greater electrification, higher efficiency, and smarter software integration across its future lineup. 1 / 1 Zoom In Launch Gallery New Power For A New Platform The Gen6 motor is part of a clean-sheet electric drivetrain that will underpin all Neue Klasse models. Developed in tandem with BMW's next-gen battery technology, the new system features a high-efficiency 800-volt electrical architecture and a redesigned cylindrical cell format offering 20% higher energy density than the previous generation. The result is a projected 30% increase in range and the ability to gain 220 miles (350 km) of range in just ten minutes using fast charging. That's critical for vehicles like the upcoming BMW iX3, which will debut the Neue Klasse architecture in production form. Slated for launch in late 2025, the iX3 promises more than just performance upgrades — it also showcases the first real-world application of BMW's Gen6 tech. Source: BMW Smarter Software, Simpler Hardware More than just motors and batteries, Neue Klasse introduces a major leap in BMW's vehicle software. A zonal wiring architecture drastically cuts complexity and weight, while four centralised control units — or 'superbrains' — consolidate tasks like driving dynamics, infotainment, and driver assistance. This new setup is said to offer 20x more computing power than current-generation systems. At CES earlier this year, BMW gave a preview of the in-car experience with its next-gen Panoramic iDrive display. The system features a head-up display stretching across the entire windshield, 3D overlays, swipe-able central screens, and haptic steering wheel controls — all designed to make the cabin as futuristic as the tech beneath it. A Modular Future With Global Reach BMW has said that Neue Klasse will eventually spawn 40 models across multiple segments, including a forthcoming electric 3 Series and the high-performance iM3, which is expected to feature quad-motor AWD and arrive by 2027. A recent round of M5 spy shots suggests that even combustion-based models will borrow design and tech cues from Neue Klasse — including the panoramic display and exterior styling elements previewed by the concept. The Gen6 motor itself is modular, scalable, and built with platform flexibility in mind. BMW says the motor can be adapted for front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive configurations, and is capable of supporting both one- and four-motor layouts. With production lines now operating in Steyr, and future Gen6 capacity coming to Debrecen, Hungary, BMW is ramping up quickly to meet global EV demand. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. About the Author Max Taylor View Profile
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Stone secures IBD financing to offer credit to businesses in the Amazon
SAO PAULO, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Brazilian payments company Stone (STNE.O), opens new tab said on Monday it has secured 295 million reais ($53.4 million) in financing from the Inter-American Development Bank's private investment arm to expand credit offerings to small and mid-sized companies, focusing on Brazil's remote Legal Amazon region. Funds from IDB Invest will support the development of businesses in the region, including by women. The area covers nine states, most of which are among the poorest in Brazil, and faces deforestation, illegal mining, land conflicts and governance challenges. The transaction, the first between Stone and the IDB, was initiated before discussions about U.S. tariffs on Brazil, said Diego Salgado, treasury officer at Stone in Brazil. "This process began over a year ago, before the American election and before the imposition of tariffs. The challenge of a more multipolar world was not yet a significant concern," he said. The financing will "help us reach 'deep Brazil,' which is the Brazil of those in need," said Carolina da Costa, Stone's director of sustainability and impact. Under the agreement, IDB Invest will also help Stone improve its products by developing solutions specifically for women entrepreneurs in remote areas such as the Amazon.
